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Scottish Coins ~ James VI (1567 - 1625)
The longest reigning Scottish monarch, and also the first monarch to reign in all of Britain, James VI ascended the throne of Scotland in 1567 after the abdication of his mother, Queen Mary. Much of his early reign was under regency. The coinage of James VI represents the most varied and substantial issues of any Scottish monarch, many new and innovative designs were introduced during this reign as well as many denominations. After the accession of James VI to the English throne as James I in 1603 the Scottish monetary system was fixed at 12:1 with the English system which was maintained until Scottish coinage was called in following the establishment of the United Kingdom in 1707. This reign is notable for the incredible number of denominations of coins, the late 16th and early 17th centuries must have been a numismatically confusing time for anybody engaging in commerce. Denominations used during this reign: Gold issued before accession to the English throne:Second Coinage:Twenty Pound Piece, 1575-1576, exceedingly rare, but collectibleThird Coinage:Ducat or 80/-, 1580Fourth Coinage:1/3 Noble or 25/-, 15842/3 Noble or 50/-, 1584-1587 Lion Noble or 75/-, 1584-1588 Fifth Coinage:
This piece is an extremely rare and one year type. The coin was worth eleven merks or 146 shillings and 8 pence. Curiously the design is a throwback to earlier English nobles of the 14th century. These pieces were not popular, and were called in and quickly replaced by the sixth coinage. the legend around the periphery of the obverse of the coin is IACOBUS 6 DEI GRATIA REX SCOTORUM or James 6 by the grace of God, King of Scots. The legend on the reverse FLORENT SCEPTRA PIIS REGNA HIS IVOA DAT NUMERATQUE or "Sceptres flourish with the pious, Jehovah gives them the kingdoms and numbers them". Sixth Coinage:Hat Piece or 80/-, ca. 1591-1593Seventh Coinage:Rider or 50/-, 1593-95, 1598-9, 1601Rider or 100/-, 1593-95, 1598-9, 1601 Eighth Coinage:Half Sword and Sceptre Piece or 60/- 1601-04Sword and Sceptre Piece or 120/- 1601-04 Gold issued after accession to the English throne:Ninth Coinage 1604-09 and Tenth Coinage 1609-25:Half Crown or 30/- ScotsThistle Crown or 48/- Scots Britain Crown or £ 3 Scots, 5/- Sterling Double Crown or £ 6 Scots, 10/- Sterling Unit or Sceptre Piece, £ 12 Scots or £ 1 Sterling Silver issued before accession to the English throne:First Coinage:1/3 Ryal or 10/-, 1567-15712/3 Ryal or 20/-, 1567-1571
This coin is a Ryal, better known as a "Sword Dollar", this was worth 30/- Scots when issued, and was a continuation of a denomination first issued during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots in 1565. This particular coin represents some of the first coinage issued during the reign of James VI, however inflation rendered it worth more than its monetary value and in 1578 it was called in, countermarked and given a new valuation of 36/9 or 36 shillings nine pence Scots. Ryal or 30/-, 1567-1571 Second Coinage:1/4 Merk or 3/4, 1572-7, 1580
This half merk represents an issue that was in the earlier debased billon issues that were issued during the 16th century. This coin was issued in 1572 and was worth 6 Shillings, 8 Pence Scots. It was the rough equivalent of 6 1/2 English Pence. 1/2 Merk or 6/8, 1572-7, 1580 Merk or 13/4, 1579-80 Merk or 26/8, 1579-80 Third Coinage:Two Shillings or 2/-, 1581Four Shillings or 4/-, 1581 Eight Shillings or 8/-, 1581 Sixteen Shillings or 16/-, 1581 Fourth Coinage:Ten Shillings or 10/-, 1582-1584Twenty Shillings or 20/-, 1582-1585
An example of an extremely rare coin, which was minted from 1582-1586 with the then having attained majority portrait of James VI. The legend IACOBUS 6 DEI GRATIA REX SCOTORUM translates as James 6 by the grace of God, King of Scots. The young king holds a sword, a symbol of his authority. The reverse of the coin has the Scottish arms, I R and XXX S for Thirty Shillings, the denomination of the coin. The legend around the reverse is HONOR REGIS IUDICUM DILIGIT 1586, which translates to The Kings power loveth judgement, unfortunately his son, Charles I would face that judgement in 1649. This coin is S-5487 in Seaby, and SJ630-025 in Coincraft. This coin is one of only three known examples of this coin that are dated 1586. Curiously this denomination would not be issued again until after James VI accessed the English throne in 1603, and portrays the king on horseback. This 30/- series was never minted in large numbers, but the earliest years ie 1582 etc. are obtainable and collectible, but the last two years, 1585 and 1586 are extremely rare because Edinburgh had suffered through a plague during those years and commercial interests and coin demand were quite low.
Provenance: Thirty Shillings or 30/-, 1581-1586 Fourty Shillings or 40/-, 1582 Fifth Coinage:No silver coins issued in this coinage.Sixth Coinage:Balance Quarter Merk or 6/8, 1591Balance Half Merk or 13/4, 1591-3 Seventh Coinage:Twelve Pence or 1/-, 1594-6Thirty Pence or 2/6, 1594-6, 1598-9, 1601 Sixty Pence or 5/-, 1594-6, 1598-9, 1600-1 120 Pence or 10/-, 1593-5, 1598-9, 1600-1. Eighth Coinage:Eighth Thistle Merk or 1/8, 1601-3
After many years of debased issues, from the start of the reign in 1567, by the dawn of the 17th century Scotland had largely done away with debased billon issues. This Quarter Merk was issued in 1603, the year of the death of Queen Elizabeth of England and the accession of James VI to the English throne as James I. This coin was issued in sterling silver and had a value of 3 Shillings 4 pence scots, or roughly the equivalent of three English pence. Quarter Thistle Merk or 3/4, 1601-4 Half Thistle Merk or 6/8, 1601-4
The above pictured coin is a Merk, and represents the very last of unique Scottish denominated coins. The Merk was derived from a very old measure of money that was used for larger quantities of money from early Medieval times. This particular coin was valued at 13 Shillings 4 Pence in Scots. This coin was issued in .916 silver, which was nearly sterling standard. The front or obverse of the coin portrays the Lion Arms of Scotland, whilst the reverse has the Thistle motif which had become quite popular in the 16th century on Scottish coinage. The above Merk image is courtesy of Charles Calkins. Thistle Merk or 13/4, 1601-4 Silver issued after accession to the English throne:Ninth and Tenth Coinages:One Shilling or 1/-, (1605-1625, undated)Two Shillings or 2/-, (1605-1625, undated) Six Shillings or 6/-, (1605-1622, undated) Twelve Shillings or 12/-, (1605-1625, undated) Thirty Shillings or 30/-, (1605-1625, undated) Sixty Shillings or 60/-, (1605-1625, undated) Billon and Copper issued before accession to the English throne:All CoinagesPenny, One Penny Plack, ca. 1597
This coin is a twopence or turner that was minted ca. 1597 in Edinburgh. The obverse portrays an image of James VI, the reverse three thistles and the legend OPPIDVM EDINBURGI. Twopenny, Two Penny Plack, Hardhead, or "Turner" ca. 1597 Fourpenny Plack ca. 1594 Eightpenny Groat ca. 1583-90 Copper issued after accession to the English throne:All CoinagesPenny
This coin is a twopence or turner that was minted ca. 1623 in Edinburgh. Twopence or bodle, issued in 1614 and 1623, undated. 1623 issue has FRAN & HIB REX |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
